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Pennsylvania Construction Accident Lawyer

The construction industry employs approximately 6% of United States workers, but accounts for 20% of workplace fatalities the largest number of fatalities reported for any industry sector. In fact, one out of 10 construction workers is injured every year. Workers on construction sites are exposed to great danger on a daily basis, even though most sites follow strict health and safety rules. In the United States the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets and enforces standards concerning workplace safety and health. Unfortunately, even the strictest procedures and precautions cannot stop all accidents from happening.

After an accident on a construction site, you will probably get a phone call from an insurance claims adjuster, trying to convince you not to get an attorney. They will also ask you to give a taped statement detailing the events of your accident. Insurance adjusters, however, exist to save insurance companies money on claims and therefore, they do not have your best interests at heart. Do not speak with an insurance claims adjuster until you have spoken to your Pennsylvania construction accident lawyer.

When you have an attorney on your side, they may deal with the insurance company, so you don't have to. A construction accident lawyer can also negotiate an out-of-court settlement and advise you every step of the way. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you, the better. They can preserve and gather evidence, locate and question witnesses and get all the facts. Also, the sooner you hire an attorney, the better, because as time goes on, it may become harder to prove that your injury was work-related. Attorneys need to gather facts, witnesses, and view the workplace in order to prove your case, and all of these actions are easier and more effective if they are done as soon as possible after the incident.

Sometimes, construction workers are the employees of the responsible party, and in those cases, injuries are handled by workers' compensation laws. In other cases, there are instances where a general contractor has tried to claim that the employee of a subcontractor is actually acting as an employee of the general contractor, in order to limit the damages under the workers' compensation laws to the construction worker.

Finding an attorney is not difficult, but it's important to do a bit of research to ensure that you are matched with a qualified, caring professional. Any lawyer you use should be a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association. They should have experience and success in fighting construction accident cases, whether workers' compensation or personal injury.

The most important thing to remember if you are injured in a construction accident is to report it immediately through the proper channels. Even if you are in the hospital, you can call and request a consultation with a qualified Pennsylvania construction injury attorney. You can concentrate on healing and getting back to your life while the professionals fight the battles for you.

There are many experienced construction accident attorneys in Pennsylvania. These lawyers are skilled in the workers' compensation system and in representing personal injuries sustained from construction accidents. The sooner you get an attorney to review your case, the better off you will be and the higher the chances of a successful conclusion in your case.